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Ryanair Condemns Useless Aviation Regulator
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Source: Ryanair
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30/07/2010
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Ryanair today (30th July) called for the resignation of useless aviation regulator, Cathal Guiomard, as he today ignored the Aviation Appeals Panel recommendation to introduce differential pricing (between terminals) at Dublin Airport and instead rubberstamped yet more price increases for the Govt owned, DAA monopoly on a day when the CSO confirmed that visitor numbers plunged 24% in May.
At a time when all other sectors of Irish tourism are cutting prices, the Govt is destroying visitor numbers with its failed €10 tourist tax and huge (up to 40%) increases in the DAA’s fees to pay for the DAA’s reckless development of a €1.2bn white elephant T2. Instead of replicating the effects of competition – which is what an effective regulator is supposed to do – Ireland’s useless Aviation Regulator again ignores the recommendations of the expert Appeals Panel and blindly rubberstamps more price increases to compensate the DAA monopoly for their collapsing traffic. Today’s latest DAA price increase shows that the Irish Aviation Regulator isn’t fit for purpose.
Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said;
“Ireland’s useless Aviation Regulator makes Patrick Neary look like Elliott Ness. Instead of introducing differential pricing as recommended by the expert Appeals Panel, or replicating the effects of competition (which drives down prices and improves services) Cathal Guiomard ignores the Panel and rubberstamps even more price increases which drive traffic numbers down again.
Today’s latest Dublin Airport price increase will do further damage to Irish tourism and jobs and proves yet again that regulation is no substitute for competition. Bertie Ahern’s Govt turned down 13 offers from third parties to build a competing second terminal at Dublin Airport. If any of these offers had been accepted, prices at Dublin Airport would now be falling and traffic rising. Instead the DAA have wasted €1.2bn building T2 and its associated facilities – a six fold over-run on its original €200m budget - and this useless Aviation Regulator stands idly by rubberstamping price increases at every opportunity to reward the DAA monopoly for their mismanagement and waste.
Ireland’s useless Aviation Regulator should resign or be dismissed before even further damage is done to Irish tourism by his inaction, his ineptitude and his incompetence.”
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» Tonci Peovic, General Manager – Zagreb Airport
